Early diagnosis of IEM is a challenge for pediatricians since they will not present any symptoms in the new-born period. Most of the IEM cases are diagnosed after a few months or even after a few years of birth and by this time life threatening irreversible damage to the brain or other disability has already happened. Dr Sujit Chatterjee, CEO of Hiranandani Hospital Kidney Transplant highlights “NBS test as the name suggest is a group of tests done within three days of birth to screen for diseases that may be sub-clinical and have long term implications on quality of life.

1. Newborn
screening and
testing:Picking
up pace in India?
https://www.hiranandanihospital.org/

2. As per WHO, more than 1.7million children are born with
birth defects every year in India. The term ‘birth defect’
encompasses a diversity of health conditions and infant
mortality and disability. This is where the role of New Born
Screening or NBScomes in.

3. Neonatologist
Dr Paras Kumar J, Neonatologist,
SPARSH Hospital for Women and
Children said, “The market scenario for
NBS has definitely improved and many
hospitals are offering it.
MARKET SCENARIO

4. UPCOMING TRENDS
Dr Kumar highlights, “One of the key trends is that
earlier NBS was available mostly in high-tech
laboratories. This scenario has changed quite a bit. NBS
is now easily accessible in urban centres.
Dr Madhavi V,Consultant Geneticist, Fernandez
Foundation said, “Phenylketonuria was the first disease
screened by NBS from dried blood spots by bacterial
inhibition assay.

5. Incorporation of NBSin
National Health programme
Dr Sujit Chatterjee CEO of Hiranandani
Hospital said, “Incorporating NBS into
national health programme would
increase the coverage and make the
NBS available to much needed
economically challenged population.

6. Dr LH Hiranandani hospital Kidney
Transplant